We carry DNA from extinct cousins like Neanderthals. Science is now revealing their genetic legacy

[Grim Reaper 6]

Neanderthals live on within us.

These ancient human cousins, and others called Denisovans, once lived alongside our early Homo sapiens ancestors. They mingled and had children. So some of who they were never went away — it’s in our genes. And science is starting to reveal just how much that shapes us.

Using the new and rapidly improving ability to piece together fragments of ancient DNA, scientists are finding that traits inherited from our ancient cousins are still with us now, affecting our fertility, our immune systems, even how our bodies handled the COVID-19 virus.

“We’re now carrying the genetic legacies and learning about what that means for our bodies and our health,” said Mary Prendergast, a Rice University archeologist.

https://english.elpais.com/science-tech/2023-09-25/we-carry-dna-from-extinct-cousins-like-neanderthals-science-is-now-revealing-their-genetic-legacy.html

[+Desertrat56]

I have been thinking about how people in my family have more Neanderthal DNA than the majority of people (who have their DNA analyzed) and how we almost all have problems (societal, not real problems) with extremely good hearing, big heads (based on hat size), aversion to crowds, predominantly red hair, often being taller than our peers, or if not taller having bigger feet for our height (which is physically a good thing as we don't have as much back trouble, it is harder to knock us down, and we can run with the long legged people and keep up, etc.).   I suspect all of that comes from the Neanderthal DNA.